Foot-rail contactor for electric burglar-alarm systems



. 1,630,914 y 1927' J; P. WILLIAMS.

FOOT RAIL CONTACTOR FOR ELECTRIC BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM.)

Filed April 8. 1925 Patented May 31, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PB ITCHARD WILLIAMS, OF BAYSIIDE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO DUIPLEX ELEC- TRIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FOOT-RAIL CONTACTOR FOR ELECTRIC BURGLAR-ALARM SYSTEMS.

Application filed April 8, 1925. Serial No. 21,477.

This invention relates to foot-rail contactors for electric burglar-alarm systems, and it comprises an improved mechanism of this type embodying the characteristicsof that genus of contact mechanisms of this character which was presented in my previous latent No. 1,146,294, ofJuly 13, 1915.

Such foot-rail contact mechanisms are desi ed to provide an operative service in w ich contact of the foot at any portion of v the longitudinal extent of an operating bar or member will cause the actuation of an alarm or signal in a connected electric alarm system, thus enabling instant location by the operator of the means for making contact and obviating the uncertainty of finding separate push buttons or other contact devices which alford buta small area for operative actuation or which involve contact units in relatively isolated positions, and for this purpose the new genus or type of footrail contactor mechanism as presented in my previous patent provided an extended pivotally-mounted operating bar or rod of a longenus above set forth were designed for and are employed in what are commercially designated daylight hold-up alarm systems, and are installed in banks or other protected locations and positionally mounted upon the floor in longitudinal relation to a cashiers cage or counter or in other desired positions, whereby when a bur larous holdup occurs, and the hands of t e official or operator must be held up, the extended operating bar or member can be instantly located with the foot at some point of its long1tud1- nal extent and pressed to operate to cause the actuation of the alarm.

These foot-rail contactor mechanismsare i preferably mounted in units of desired length, and such units may be successively mountedto afford a continuous operating length of. any desired extent, and may be positioned at any desired point or in any condition of mounting which will permit of the actuation of the extended operating bar or member by pressure exerted at any point thereon.

The object of my present invention is to provide improvements in the genus type of foot-rail contactormechanism as above referred to, whereby a more convenient and effective and positive operation is secured and accidental or unintended actuation of the extended operating bar or member is entirely precluded. A further object of my improvements is to provide a contactor mechanism of this class which will possess advantages in point of simplicity in construction, range of operation, variability in type of sign-a s or alarms actuated by the contactor mechanism, normal maintenance of operating parts, effectiveness, and general efliciency.

In the drawings I have illustrated one unit of my improved foot-rail contactor mechanism, and

Figure 1 is a front View thereof,'partly in section, as mounted upon the floor.

t Fig. 2 is a top or plan view, partly in secion.

. Fig. 3 is a vertical line 3- 3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section, on the line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 5-5, Fig. 1, looking upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 6-6, Fig. 4, showing contact means which are actuated by the extended operating bar.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the alarm-system circuit connections with the improved foot-rail contactor mechanism, whereby variable or differential signals or alarms may be actuated from respective contact means under one movement of the extended operating bar which actuates the plurality of contact means.

Corres )onding parts in all the figures are denoted y the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the body of the improved foot-rail contactor unit as herein illustrated consists oi a top plate, 14,

cross-section on the a rear plate, 15, extending downwardl therefrom, and end plates, 16 16, exten ing forwardly said plates formin a body housing. Said end plates prefera ly have their front edges recessed or curved inward- 1y, as at 17, intermediately of the top and bottom, to open up the body space beneath the top late, into which the foot 1s projected. bottom plate, 18, is also referably employed, extending horizonta 1y between the end plates and forwardly of the rear plate, but said flat bottom plate is not essential to the body construction and is only for strengthening purposes and may be eliminated or its front edge may be cut away or curved inwardly to reduce its area, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, if d e sired. The top surface of the top plate 14 is preferably inclined downwardly and torwardly, as shown, to afford a convenient foot rest when the foot-rail contactor device is mounted in operative position upon and above the floor. Such mounting and securing of the body structure may be effected in any suitable or desired manner, and I have herein illustrated one construction for this purpose, in which the bottom edges of the end plates 16 have a laterally extending flange, as at 19, through which securing screws, 20, pass into the floor, 21.

At the top of the body, immediately beneath the top plate 14, supplementary ca'sin s or housings, 22, are provided at a plu rality of desired points and respectively carry contact means in circuit connection with the alarm system, said housings being suitably secured in position, preferably by connection with the end plates, as at 23. The housings 22 preferably have an open top, which is closed b the under surface of the to plate 14, an comprise side walls, 24:, an a bottom, 25, in which latter is provided a slot, 26, of suitable length extending in a plane from front to rear.

Any suitable or adapted contact means may be carried by the respective supplementary housings 22, but I preferably employ the construction as herein shown, in which two opposite springs plates, 2727, are mounted in insulated status and respectively have a terminal end, as at 28, which ends of the two plates are in opposite normally-separated position, in a plane coincident with the front portion of the bottom slot of the casing or rousing 22, and are adapted for contact operation by the action of the extended operating bar of the foot-rail contactor mechanism,

30 designates the extended operating bar or member which is comprised in the genus type of thisclass of foot-rail contact mechanisms. This member may be of any suitable or adapted construction, extending longitudinaily of the contactor unit and op erative in common to all the contact means v mounted and is normally positioned to extend a short distance beneath the boxes 22 which carry the contact means.

The pivotal mounting of the operating .bar or rod is preferably upon the Supplementary casings or housings 22, and in the relation of the pivotal bar to the preferred construction of contact means as herein shown the housings respectively carry at their rear portion a shaft, 31, extending transversely of the box in the longitudinal plane of the operating bar and pivotally mounted in the side walls of the housin as at 32. Said shafts respectively carry a hxed laterally-projecting arm comprising one wing, 33, extending forwardly within the housing and another wing, 34, projecting downwardly through the bottom slot of the housing and connected with and carrying the extended operating bar, the latter thus having its pivotal action upon the shafts 31. The action of the pivotal shafts 31 under pressure exerted upon the operating bar 36 is controlled by a coiled spring, 35, mounted upon the shaft and having one terminal, 36, in fixed connection with the housing 22 and another terminal, 37, extending forwardly and over the top wing 33 of the arm which carries the operating bar. The action of the springs is thus to force the operating bar downwardly, which downward movement is limited bycontact of the armwing 33 with the bottom of the housing, the upward movement of the operating bar being against the tension of the spring and the latter being automatically operative to return the bar to its normal downward position. The front terminal cnd oi the armwing 33 is in a plane coincident with the opposite nofinally-separated terminal ends 2828 of the spring contact-plates QT-27, and is normally out of contact therewith, but upon upward movement of the operating bar and consequent upward movement of said wing 33 its front terminal end on ters between the ends of the spring plates and thus establishes contact to close the elcctric alarm circuit. The contact end of the wing 33 is preferably oppositely beveled in V contour, as at 38, to facilitate its contact engagement between and with the ends oi the spring contact-plates in its upward movement.

It will be understood that the action of the controlling springs 35 is to automatically return the extended operating bar 30 to its normal downward position immediately upon re moval of pressure thereon, and in hold up alarm mechanisms of this character it is cspccially desirable that the actionbe noiseless and not attract the attention of the burglar. For this desired purpose, inasmuch as thc pre Kati tit)

1,eeo,914

ferred mounting and operation of my im proved foot-rail contactor mechanism is such that only an initial pressure upon the operating bar need be made and the bar at once returns automatically to normal position vunder spring action, I provide a buffer or block, 39, preferably of elastic material, carried by the bottom of the casings or housings 22 which enclose the electric switch or contact means, said buffer block being positioned immediately beneath the front terminal end of the arm-wing 33 and thus acting as a noiseless buffer when said wing returns downwardly under instant action of the springs3hflwhen pressure upon the operating bar 30 is withdrawn.

The front of the top 14 of the body of the device is preferably extended downwardly, as at 40, to a point beneath the contact-means casings or housings 22-, and thus forms a front closure in front of said boxes. Said downwardly-extending front edge at the top of the body is preferably curved, as shown, forming a neat front top structure and a curved top guide for the entrance of the foot to position for actuation of the extended operating bar. The lower edgre of said top extension and guide preferably terminates on a plane in front of the plane of the ctr-- tended operating bar whenthe latter is in its downward normal operative position, thus forming a front closure in front of the bar, and the entire lower body space. as at 41., beneath the operating bar, is free and unobstructed and open at its front and affords rom its top to bottom and end to end an open unobstructed area or space for the unimpeded entrance of the foot and operation thereof within said open free space-area for the actuation of the extended operating bar.

Heretofore, in foot-rail contactor mechanisms produced according to the genus hereinbefore set forth, the pivoted or hinged operating bar has been arranged to swing; rearwardly and upwardly; being mounted with its fulcrum or pivot at the front, so that the inward thrust of the foot actuates bar. This condition of mounting is euloject to many disadvantages especially inasmuch as the actuation of the operating; bar by a direct inward thrust is liable to result in accidental or unintended operation and the giving of false alarms, and furthermore under the rearward and upward novement of the operating bar any accumulation of foreign matter or rubbish within the space heneath the bar, or the entrance into said space of a broom or other implement in floor cleaning, is liable to cause the unintended and accidental operative action of the her by the inwardly-directed pressure thereon. To reduce the liability to unintended or accidental actuation of the operating bar when mounted to be moved by a direct inward and upward thrust, the lower portion of the body of the device at the open front beneath said bar has heretofore been closed, with the bar resting by gravity upon the bottom closure, leaving only a relatively small space in front of the bar for the entrance of the foot of the operator, but these conditions of construction materially limit the free space or area afforded for the operative action or movement of the foot and also limit the open area at the front of the device which must be found by the foot under requisite conditions of instant operation under a burglarous attack, the open front afforded for insertion of the foot being restricted to a comparatively small or narrow space existing between the closed and obstructed bottom portion of the body and the inwardly and upwardly swinging operating bar.

In my improved construction, as herein set forth, these disadvantages and conditions above referred to are entirely obviated, and accidental or unintended actuation of the extended operating bar is precluded, the bar being; mounted to swing forwardly and upwardly, whereby any direct inward thrust or pressure against the bar is met by the stationary position thereof and the bar cannot be moved upon its pivotal mounting except by pressure in a counter direction to cause its movement forwardly and upwardly. Thus, any broom or implement entering the open front of the body of the device and striking against the extended operating bar is met by the stationary position and the fixed resistance of the bar itself, and

any accumulation of foreign matter within the lower portion of the open body likewise is inactive in any effect upon the operative action of the bar which can only move in a forward and upward direction. These conditions of improved mounting thus on able the provision of a free and unobstructed operative space or area throughout the whole lower portion of the body of the dcvice heneath the extended operating bur, producing &,Wl(l8l1l(?ti open front for the reception of the foot and the desired movement thereof within the body of the device for the bringing of the toe of the foot in rear of the bar and the exertion of pressure thereon towards the front of the device and thus forwardly upon the bar to actuate it in an arc of movement forwardly and upwardly.

The structural mechanism of my improved foot-rail contactor is adapted to operate upon any type of circuit connection, whether an open or closed circuit or con1bi-- nation of open and closed circuits. extend ing from the contact means in the casinos till or housings 22 to the alarm or signal of the burglar alarm system as will be readily understood. and the specific type of contact means which are actuated by the extended operating bar may be of course varied within the range of the various switch mechanisms or well known equivalent contact means in the electrical art. It will also be understood that the series or plurality of respective contact means carried by the casings or housings 2'2, and which are actuated in common by the one movement of the extended operating bar 30, ma in their electrical connection be in multiplh or in parallel or in series as desired, according to the arrangement of conductors in the circuit connecting the respective contact means, whereby the one movement of the extended operating bar will actuate all of the res Jective contact means or certain units thereot or variably operate the respective contact means in connection with variable signals or alarms or conditions in the connected burglar-alarm system.

I have herein shown one preterred type of electric circuit connection between the respective contact means and the alarm system, the respective contact means being connected in multiple and all operated simul taneously by one movement of the extended operating bar, it being also understood that in any conditions of movement of-the operating bar it only one or less than all of the contact means were actuated the alarm or signal would be given through the circuit. In the circuit arrangement just noted, two insulated conductor wires, 42-42, are respectively connected to the respective spring contact plates 27-27 of each contact means, and extend outside the casings or housings 522 longitudinally between the respective cont-act means, as at 43, said conductors being preferably.carried in a cable or conduit located immediately beneath the top plate 14 of the body of the device and secured thereto. The terminals of said insulated conductors extend respectivelyto insulated binding posts, 44, carried outside of the end wall of the contact-means housings .22, and connected with said binding posts are the two insulated circuit conductor wires, 45-46, of the burglar alarmsystem, these latter conductors being preferably carried in a cable or conduit extending through the rear wall or plate 15 of the body of the device and from thence downwardly to a pull box, 47, located beneath the floor under the foot-rail contactor mechanism, and are carried from thence through the circuit of the burglar alarm system.

I have illustrated in Fig. 7 an arrange ment of alarn'i-system circuit connections with iny-iinprovcd foot-rail contactor mechanism in conditions where it is desired to ac-.

tuatc by one movement of the extended Ops crating bar alarms or signals of respective diti'erent types or character and respectively in circuit connection with the respective. contact means which are operated by saidbar.

in this arrangement of circuits each (lit ferential signal or alarm is in circuit connection with the respective contact-means in the respective casings or housings 22 by which it is actuated. Thus, in the diagrammatic illustration, the system conductors and 46 extend from one of the housings 22 in a normally-open circuit as follows: the conductor wire 45 to one side of a battery or source of electrical energy, 48, and from the other side of the battery to the frame of a normally-open automatic drop, 49, and the other conductor wire 46 extends through an annunciator, 50, to the coils and frame of the automatic drop, and from the contact, 51, of the automatic drop a connecting conduetor wire, 52, extends to and through a si nal device as, for instance an illuminating electric bulb or lamp), 53, and back to connection with the other conductor wire 45 in front of the battery. From another of the housings 22 conductor wires 45 and 46 extend to and through another corresponding or similar circuit including a different alarm or signal device, as, for instance, an electric bell, 54. In the operation of the circuits arranged as just indicated, the burglar-alarm circuit remains open through the automatic drop 49, and the circuit constituted by the conductor wires 45-46 forming the connection between the foot-rail contactormechanism and the burglar-alarm circuit is also open at the switch formed by the spring contact-plates 27 of the contact means, the extended operating bar being in its downward position. Then, when the operator actuates the operating rod ofthe foot-rail contactor mechanism to move it forwardly and up wardly; the circuit is closed at the switch formedby the spring contact-plates 27 and through the conductors 45,-46 connected therewith. The current then passes from one pole of the battery 48, through the conductor 45, and across the switch contacts 27, to and through the conductor 46uand animnciatorfiO and'the coils and frame of the automatic drop 49 and from thence through the conductor 45'back to the opposite side of the battery. This completes a circuit across the automatic drop and energizes it, which through operation of its armature causes its hinged frame plate to drop to the contact 51, and as soon as this contact is made the current passes through conductor 52 and the signal or alarm device, as at 5354, and back to the conductor 4-5 at the initial side of the battery. The signal or alarm device is thus actuated by the current passing from one side of the battery through the conductors 45 and 52, and through the signal or alarm device to the contact- 51 of '.the automatic drop and through the hinged .fraine plate thereof and conductor 45 back to the opposite side of the battery. This signal circuit is'maintained, and the signal or alarm device is under continuous actuation until device is in use, onl

Thus, is'merely necessary to actuate the operating bar or member 30 of the foot-rail contactor mechanism ina forward and up- Ward movement to close the switch formed by the contact-plates 27, when pressure upon said bar can be released and the bar automatically returns to its normal position by action of the spring 35, as only an instant action of the operating bar is required to close the circuit of the connected alarm system through the automatic drop 49 and the energizing f tl1e latter causes the instant: closing of the circuit'through the signalor alarm device and the continuous actuation thereof after the pressure-has been removed from the operating bar 30 and it has resumed its normal downward position and until the automatic drop is again opened as desired. a

My improved foot-rail contactor mechanism is thus adapted for such circuit connection with the alarm system that the extended operating bar or member is in normal operative position at all times when. the an instant pressure thereon'bein require to cause actuation of the alarm, a ter which the operating-bar returnsto normal position and the continuous actuation of the alarm is maintained until shut off.

It is obvious that the improved -contactor mechanism, as roduced by my invention, may be mounted in any desired position, as

structure and extended longitudinally of said supplementary casings or housings and operative in its swing "to actuate the respective contact means carried by said spacedsupplementary casings or housings. 2. A foot-rail contactor mechanism of the class described, comprising a body structure constituted by a housing having a top and a rear wall and a relatively flat bottom plate, supplementary casings or housings separately located and carried at the under side of said top wall. electrical contact means respectively carried by said separate casings or housings, and an operating bar pivotal y mounted within the body structure and extended longitudinally of said supplementary casings or'housings and operative in its swing to actuate the respective contact means carried by said spaced supplementary casings or housings.-

3. A foot-rail contactor mechanism of the class described, comprising a body structure having a top wall, electrical contact means carried at the under side of said top wall, an operating bar pivotally mounted within the body structure and depending beneath said top wall and operative in its swing to actuate said contact means, and an extension forming a front top closure and extending downwardly from said'top wall to a point in front of the plane of the operating bar when the latter is in its downward normal position and constituting a front closure in front ofthe bar, said front extension being curved downwardly and inwardly and constituting a top guide for the forupward pressure or downward pressure 0f the foot. into Position b k of or lateral pressure upon the operating bar or member, and located as desired for pressure action by the foot or hand-of an operator.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the detail construction and arrangement of arts as herein shown and described, as it is manifest that variations and modifications therein maybe resorted to, in the adaptation of my invention to varying conditions of use, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right'- to'- all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A foot-rail contactor mechanism of the class described, comprising a body structure constituted b a housing having a top and a rear and en walls, supplementary casings or housin separately located and carried at the un er side of said top wall, electrical contact means respectively carried by said separate casingls or housti/pgs, and an operating bar pivota 1y moun within the body -the closure in front of the operating bar. l 4. A foot-rail contactor mechanism of the class described, comprising a body structure having a top wall, supplementary cas- 'ng-s 0r housings carried at the under side of said top wall, electrical contact means carried by said supplementary casings or housiings, an operating bar pivotally mounted 'within the body structure and operative in its swing to actuate the contact means carried by said casings or housings, and an extensionforming a front top closure and extending downwardly from said top wall to a point beneath said contact-means casings or housings and constituting a front closure in front of said housings.

5. A foot-rail contactor mechanism of the .class described, comprising a body structure having atop wall, supplementary casings or housings carried at the under side of said top wall, electrical contact means carried by said supplementary casings or housings, an operating bar pivotally mounted within the body structure and operative in its swing to actuate the contact means carried by said casingsor housings, and an extension forming a front top closure and extending downwardly from said top wall to a point in front of the plane of the operating bar when the latter is in its downward normal position, said front extension constituting a front closure 1n front of sald supplementary casings or housings and the oper-- having a top wall, electrical contact means.

carried at the under side of said top wall, an operating bar mounted within the body structure and depending beneath said top wall and pivoted to swing in an arc of movement forwardly and upwardly to actuate said contact means, and means for retaining the operating bar against inward or rearward movement, whereby any direct inward thrust or pressure against the operating bar is met by a fixed or stationary position thereof, the entire lower body space or area of the body structure beneath the operating bar being open and free or unobstructed to provide an unobstructed bottom area or space for the unimpeded operation of'the foot to actuate said bar in its forward and upward swing. y

7. A foot-rail contactor mechanism of the class described, comprising a body structure having a top wall, supplementary casings or housings carried at the under side of said top wall, electrical contact means carried by said casings or housings, an operating bar pivotally mounted and extending within the body structure and having an extension operatively projective with relation to said contact means to actuate the same in the swing of the bar, and means comprised in the su plementary casings or housings to limit t e movement of the operating bar.

8. A foot-rail contactor mechanism of the class described, comprising a body structure having a top wall, supplementary casings or housings carried at the under side of said top wall, electrical contact means carried by said casings or housings, an operating bar pivotally mounted and extending within the body structure and having an extension operatively projective with relation to said contact means to actuate the same in the swing of the bar, and spring control-means comprised in the supplementary casings or housings and operative to return the operating bar to normal position.

9. A foot-rail contactor mechanism of the class described, comprising an. open-front housing, electrical contact means carried within the top portion of said housing, an operating bar extending within said housing and pivotally mounted to swing in an arc of movement forwardly and upwardly towards the front of the housing and in its swing actuate said contact means, and means for maintaining a fixed position of said operating bar against movement or actuation by an inward thrust or pressure from the front of the housing.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

1 JOHN PRITCHARD VILLIAMS. 

